Vehicle-spring



1. B.- KINCER. VEHICLESPRINGl APPLICATION FILED'SEPT. 9, 1915.

mama June-1,1920.

i 1. B.'K|NCER.

VEHICLE SPRING. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 1 915.

Patented J une 1,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED FlCE- VEHICLE-SPRING'.

Application filed September 9, 1915.

To all whom t may concern Y Be it 'known that I, JOSEPH B. KINCER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Springs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle4 springs, and especially that type adapted for automobiles and like vehicles, and consists essentially in a special group arrangement or coordination of springs connected by movable or shiftable members, such as arms or levers, to a horizontal intermediary support or frame inl such manner that an extension of one spring under pressure resulting from a sudden upward thrust of the axle, vover which the springs are grouped, will produce a compression in another spring lof the group and thereby cause the axle and point of support for the vehicle bed to move toward each other and reduce the perpendicular distance between the axle and bed to a greater degree than is accomplished by the action of ordinary spring organizations now commonly used. This increased movement also operates to neutralize or suppress the rebound'and sway of the spring organization or group of springs embodying the feal tures of the invention when an abnormal pressure is suddenly relaxed therefrom.

When the axle of a vehicle or automobile is suddenly thrust upwardly, a considerable portion of this motion is communicated to and affects the body of the vehicle, and the occupants of the latter are subjected to a very disagreeable sensation. To obviatethis tion or vertically, or the upward motion of f the lower spring is imparted or transmitted to the upper spring through'the medium of Y the auxiliary connecting spiral spring. rl`he present improved spring organization ac- ,14 showing a still further modification of complishes absorption or neutralization of upward thrusts, rebounds or sways and minimizes resultant movements of thevehicle body in a practical and eiicient man- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1920.

Serial No. 49,727.

ner as the extension of one spring produces,

through the movable connecting arms or levers embodying part of the improvement, a compression and reverse bend of another spring of the group to thus give the points Vof support on the respective springs a motion opposite to each other and results in a very small amount of the upward motion of the axle aEecting-the vehicle body and a consequent exceedingly smooth andquiet running motion Vof the vehicle. The invention also consists in thepreferred construction, arrangement and various applications of parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed. In the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation vof a portion of the frame or running gear of a vehicle showing one form of the improved spring organization applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figof a :modified form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on the line 4 4, Fig. 3.

Fig.` 5 is a view similar toV Fig. y1 of a further modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on the line 6 6, Fig. 5. y

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1V showing a further modified form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is av transverse vertical section on the line 8 8, Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section on the line 9 9, Fig. 7

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a further modification.

Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical section on the line 1,1 11, Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a rear sectional end elevation of a portion ofl a body `and'axle of an automo- 'bile showing the features of the invention in further modified form and arranged across the end of the vehicle over the axle.

Fig. v13 is a transverse vertical section on the line 13 13, Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a View similar to Fig. 12 showing a further modification of the invention;

Fig. 15 is a transverse vertical section on the line15-15, Fig. 14. Y

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Figs. 12 and the invention. l

The present improved spring organization may be applied to vehicles or aiyotrher Vmechanism with which it may have an advantageous association, but it is particularly intended for use with vehicles, such as motor vehicles or automobiles, having rebounding` or swaying action when the springs thereof are suddenly thrust upwardly by the wheels engaging ruts or uneven road surfaces. As

vwill be hereinafter specified, the novel arrangement of springsv and accessories embodying the features of the invention may be disposed -lmgitudinally of the running i Ygear'or extend transversely of the said gear y over the rear axle, as maybe desiredand found best adapted torperform the function sought; ,l VInthe form offthe spring organization shown by Figs. 1 and 2, Athe numeral 5 des- 'I' ignates apart Vof the vehicle body or body frame; 6. a depending Vconnecting' member of the body; and the axle beam or axle support, as the'caseinay be, according to the particular vehicle structure to which the invention is applied. In this form of the or- Y- ganization an intermediary support or frameV 8 is movably attached at one endto Vthe body '5, as at 9, and to said support or Vframe 8 upwardly conver'edjpairs ofwarms or levers-10 and `llfare inteiinediately pivoted by bolts 12., The intermediary support of frame `8vcomprises two similar bars 13 of equal dil I mensions, with the arms or levers 10 and 11 slightly longer thanv the upper spring 15.

The lower spring 1a [is centrally Vsecured to the axlebeam or support 7, and the upper spring is centrally attached to the dependn ing member 6. The ends of the springs 14 and 15 extendbetween and are pivotally or movably connectedto the pairs of arms or levers 10r and 11 at points respectively above and belowV the intermediary support or frame 8. vThe arms .or leversgmay, in part at least, Vbe provided with a plurality of openings 16 or other form `of attachment for adjustment Vof thel springs relatively thereto, oi' to one 'pair of the arms lor levers to regulate or modifythe strength and sensitive action of thev springs as may be desired and found necessary..

n An upward thrust of the axle or axle beamV 7 will correspondingly move the spring 14 at Y thefcenter and by extension outwardly turn the lower extremitiesof the pairs of arms or levers 10 and 11 and forcey the upper extremities of said arms,y or levers inwardly and' thus. by compressing the center of the upper spring15 give it an opposite direction Yof motion to 4that of the' lower spring,

i p the strain V incident toi such operation Vbeing taken up bythe intermediary support or leaf spring 18 is pivotally attached at its ends to the body 5 and centrally to the top portion of the bolster or beam 17. In' this instance the intermediary support-8 has `the same form ofbars 13 and in addition'is provided with sliding or shifting compensators yorV bars 19 on the'outer sides of the said bars 13. The vsprings 14 and 15 are below the spring 18, the spring 15 being centrally secured to the lower'portion ofthe connecting member or beam 17 andthe lower spring 14 centrallysecured'to the axleor axle beam 7 j as in the first form. The endsof the springs 14E and 15 aresimilarly secured to Vthe pairs ofarins or levers 10 and 11 in like manner pivotedto the bars13 of the intervmediary supportor frame8, the'lower-ends of the arms or Vlevers 10 inl this instancehaving links 20` pivoted thereto and also to a belt 21 slidable in'slots 22 in the adjacent ends of the bars 13 of the intermediary Vsupport or frame 8 and terminally secured to the coinpensators or bars 19. The pair of arms or levers 11 has a pair of links 23 pivoted to the upper ends thereof and also toY a bolt 24v engaging slots 25 adjacent to the Voppositeends of the bars 13 and terminally secured to the opposite ends of the bars 19. n)lie springs all have their concave sides uppermost, and the principle of operation thereof is similar to the first described forni of the organization. n The extra leaf spring 18 relieves the body of the vehicle of sudden upward or swaying movements to a greater ex- 'Ytent than where only two leaf springs are used, and the compensator bars 19 unify or iio equalize the'moveinentsof the arms or levers Y 10 and 11, and render the action of the Vsprings 14 and 15 in consonance; and Vso tion as a whole. v

` The formiof the'organizationl shown by Figs.V 5 and-6 is very similarftothatshown by Figs. 3 and-4C 'eXcept that a half-'leaf spring 2 6 is secured to thebody 5 instead of a complete spring, andthe links 20 and 23 are reversed relatively to the ends of the arms or levers 10 and 11 to which they are attached. The links 20 are attached to the upper ends of the arms or levers 10, and the links 23 to the lower ends of the arms or levers 11. -The operation of this form of the invention is practically the same as that shown by Figs. 4 and 5.l

In the form of thel organization shown by Figs. 7, 8 and 9, a leaf spring 27 with an upward convex trend is secured to the connecting member 28 secured to the body 5. The intermediary support or frame 8 with its compensators or bars 19, slots 22 and 25, bolts 21 and 24,and the arms or levers 10 and 11, having the springs 14 and 15 connected thereto, are all similar to the corresponding structures illustrated by Figs. 3,4,

5 and 6 and have like operations and functions. The arms or levers 10, however, have auxiliary 'arms or levers 29 vintermediately pivoted thereto, and to the upper ends of the latter arms or levers one end of the spring 27 is pivotally or movably connected. The lower ends of the levers or arms 29 are connected by links 30 to the bolt 21, and adjustably pivoted to the upper portions of said arms or levers 10 and to the said bolt 21 is a pair of links 31. At the point where the links 31 are attached to the arms or levers 10 the end of the leaf spring 15 is also connected. The leaf springs 14 and 15 are also adjustably connected to the arms or levers 10 inthis instance as shown. The ends-of the springs 27 and 14 opposite those attached to the arms orlevers 29 and 10 are attached to the arms or levers 32 and 11 respectively as before, the arms or levers 11 having their lower extremities attached to the spring 14. Projecting from the levers 11 at an angle to the same are supplemental arms 32 which are also movably connectedby links 32a to the bolts 24 movable in slots 25. The lower ends of arms or levers 11 are connected to bolts 24 by links 32h. The spring 14 is centrally secured to the axle or axle beam 7 as in the previous structures, and an upward movement of said spring is caused through the same devices to compress the spring 15, which in this organization performs the functions of a take-up spring or shock absorber and not those of a bearing spring. These springs acting through the arms or levers and links as hereinbefore described tend to move the extremities of the spring 27 downwardly when an upward thrust is imparted to the axle, the bars 19 compensating the movements of the parts and also giving a very smooth action to the several springs when the latter are relieved of upward stress and return to normal position. In other words, the essential principle of operation of the preceding devices is fully embodied. and becomes effective in the or ganization shown by Figs. 7, 8 and 9, and in this organization the ends of the two bearing springs 14 and 27 when the springs are subjected to abnormal stress move t0- ward each other and thus neutralize or compensate for the vertical motion of the axle, imparting a minimum of such motion to the body.

Figs. 10 and 11 show a form of the organization which is practically the same as the organization shown by Figs. 7, 8 and' 9, the differencebeing that spring 15` which serves as a take-up spring in the latter organization is omitted and also the arms or levers 11, the levers 33 performing the function of the arms or levers 11 and 32 as shown by Fig. 7. Like reference characters are applied to similar vparts in the two organizations. The springs 14 and 27 are in yreverse relation to each other and connected at one end by links 32a and 32b to the bolt 24 moving in the slots 25. l

The organizations thus far described are particularly adapted for longitudinal applicationwrelatively to the side portions of the vehicle body and 'running gear and frame or chassis. The organizations shown by Figs. 12 to 16, inclusive, are constructed for application transversely with relation to the body and frame and running gear and over the rear axle. 'The structure shown by Figs. 12 and 13 is reversed relatively to the structure Vshown by 3 and 4, and comprises an upper spring 34 centrally connected to and supporting the ybody 5, an

'intermediate spring 35 centrally attachedA toY the upper portion of an intermediate beam or frame member 36, and a lower spring 37 attached at its center to the lower portion' of thesaid framemember 36 and its ends secured by clips 38 to the axle 39. The springs 34, 35 Vand 37 all have their convex sides uppermost, and the ends of the springs 34 and 35 are movably connected to the upper and lower ends of arms or levers 10 and 11 similar to the same devices shown in preceding figures of the drawings. The

vupper ends of the arms or levers 10 and the lower ends of the arms or levers 11 are connected by links 40 and 41, respectively', to the bolts 21 and 24 moving in slots 22 and 25 of the bars 13 of theintermediary 'support 8, said bolts being'terminally secured to 'compensators or bars 19 as in the preceding structures. ln the organization shown by Figs. 14 and 15 the general structure is similar to the organization shown by Figs. 12 and 13, but the spring 37 of the latter Vorganization is Vomitted and the intermediary support or frame 8 is attached at its ends to the axle `39, while the lower spring 35 performs the functions of a take-up spring or shock absorber and not those of a direct bearing spring. In other respects the parts of the organization shown by Figs. 14. and 15 are'precisely simi- VYlar toV thoseof the organization shown by Figs. 12fand 18 and the same reference characters areused to designate the corresponding parts.

In the organization vshownby Fig., 16 the intermediary support or frame 8 will have its ends secured to the axle, but the lower spring 37, as shown by Fig, 12, is reversed in position in the organizationshown by Fig.

16fand becomes an upper bodyfsupporting spring..l d2 and has its ends movablyrconnected to thesaid body. and its center secured'to thecenter ofthe spring 34 by a -frame member/i3.V In other structural particulars'the organization shown by Fig. 16 is'similar to that illustrated by Fig. 14, and

' the springs 34 and 35, are/connected at their VVso ends in the same'manner to thel intermediary support orV frame 8, and spring 34C againV acts asia talreup or shockabsorbing spring.

TheV intermediary support or frame embodied in the several organizations herein described is movably attached to the body n or a portionV of the body in someinstances,

and also positively'xed to the aXle,and-in other arrangements this support or frame is free of attachment to. any part of the Vbody oii axle and practicallyloats Vor is suspendedxandiin allfcases it has a motion independent-of the body@V In all the arrangevments or modes of` attachmentthereofthe function of this device remains` the same, and that' is, as an intermediary or inter- 4mediate member between the springs themselves, or :between-part of the groupA of springs `and the bodyor'aXle, and lhaving the'main function of'sustaining the springs Vin their rebound Vand sway, neutralizing and positions; and also bythe shiftable compensators ;orbars in someV instances carried "by the said intermediary support or frame.

Moreover, the pairs of arms or'levers andV the pairs of links are shown in their various forms as instances of practical connecting means to compensate for the movements ofV the several parts and especially the springs, but the invention is not limited to theserdevices nor to their arrangement in pairs, as other analogous structures may be used to movably connect the springs to the inter- Vmediarysupport or frame to set up` a compensating and c qualizing action.

It will also be understood that changes in the proportions, dimensions and minor details of the several organizations may 'be Vadopted at" will within the scope of the iii-- vention to accommodate various applications-,of thesame to different kinds of vehide-bodies, frames and running. gear.

What'is claimed is: 1. A spring organization of the class specified for operation with a vehicleV body kand running gear,VV comprising leaf springs V.pivoted 'intermediate their ends to the support. Y Y Y.

3. A. spring organization of thei class specified for 'operation with a vehicle body, frame and running gear, comprising spaced leatsprings, an intermediate rigid support movable relatively to the body, andpairs of rebound yand sway neutralizing arms pivotally connected to portions of said intermediate support and springs.

Y 4f. A spring organization of the class specified for operation with a vehicle body,

trame and running gear, comprising a vgroup of interacting leaf bearing springs-arranged in siiperposed relation .andfanintermediate rigid support, and rebound'and swayneutralizingfarms pivotallyT connected to said springs and said rigid support;

5. A. spring organization of the` class;

specified for operation with a vehicle body,

.trame and running gear, comprising a group of interacting leaf: springs, and' an intermediate rigid support having pivoted there- Y .i to devices crossing the same and connected to portions of and movable with the springs Yand providing means for compensating and neutralizing spring action relatively to the body by `the rebound and sway of the springs. Y y

6. A springorganization of the class specified,v for operation with a vehicle body, frame andk ruimingl gear, comprising a group of interacting leaf springs mounted to have opposite directions of motion when subjectedi to abnormal stress, an intermediate rigid supporthaving said springs attached thereto. a support longitudinally disposed between portions of the springsand provided with devices extending across and movably connected thereto and to parts of the springs, and a neutralizing action relatively to said springs relatively to the vehicle'body by a sudden upward thrust of the axle or by the rebound and sway of the springs when the latter are relieved of abnormal stress.

'7. A' spring organization of the class specified Jfor operation with a vehicle body, frame and running gear, comprisinga group of `superposedleafsprings having opposite cliable devices and shifting means setting up a compensating and neutralizing `action relatively to said springs relatively to the vehicle body by a sudden upward thrust of the axle or by the rebound and sway of the springs when the latter are relieved of abnormal stress and return to normal position.

8. A spring organization of the class specii'ied for operation with a vehicle body, frame and running gear, comprising a group of leaf springs in part connected to the body and having`an upward movement when subjected to abnormal stress, and an intermediate rigid support extending longitudinally relatively to the springs and having movable devices disposed across and intermediately pivotally attached to the support and terminally connected to ends of the springs, and shifting means carried by said support, said support, movable devices and shifting means setting up compensating and neutralizing actions relatively to said springs to check vibration of the vehicle body by a sudden upward thrust of the axle or by the rebound and sway of the springs when the latter are relieved of abnormal stress and return to normal positions.

9. A spring organization of the class specified for operating with a vehicle body, frame and running gear, comprising an upper and a lower leaf bearing spring and an intermediate take-up or shock absorbing spring interposed longitudinally between the said bearing springs, an intermediate rigid support between the springs, and movable connecting devices interposed between portions of the said springs and the support, the support consisting of pairs oflongitudinally arranged bars and the devices embodying pairs of arms extending across the bars, the bars and arms operating to set up compensating and neutralizing actions when the springs are subjected to stress and to check vibrations of the vehicle body by rebound or sway of the springs when the latter are relieved of abnormal stress and return to normal position.

l0. A spring organization of the class speciiied for operating with a vehicle body, frame and running gear, comprising a group of leaf springs, an intermediate rigid support, movable connecting devices interposed between portions of said springs and pivotally attached to the support,`and shifting bars to which the springs are in part connected for bracing the said movable devices to synchronize their motions and check a longitudinal displacement of the springs relative to the support when the axle receives a sudden longitudinal thrust or jar,

ll.v A spring organization of the class specified for operating with a vehicle body, frame and running gear, comprisingv an intermediate rigid support, a leaf bearing spring, an. auxiliarytake-up or shock absorbing spring, movable connecting devices interposed between portions of said springs and the support and extending across the latter, and means shiftably carried by the support for bracing the said movable devices to synchronize their motion and check a longitudinal displacement of the springs relative to the support when the axle receives a sudden longitudinal thrust or jar.

l2. A Idevice of the class described comprising a plurality of spaced spring members, a longitudinally extending central bar, links connected to the said central bar and pivotally connected to said sprin members and adapted to be forced outwar ly as said spring members are compressed toward each other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH B. KIN CER. Vitnesses:

DOROTHY W. TERRY, URBAN E. GOERNER. 

